Doggie DIY Delights

You don’t have to be a genius in the kitchen to whip up treats your dog will go crazy for. You can use these special recipes for training treats, or to keep your dog occupied when you’re busy. Going to be separated from your pup for a while? Send their favorite treats along when you drop them off with your Rover pet-sitter. They’ll be too busy noshing on snacks and getting lots of playtime to miss you for a moment!

Crunchy Delight

Add a teaspoon of flaxseed to ½ cup doggy-safe peanut butter (unsalted, with no added xylitol). Then, mix in ½ cup shredded carrots. Roll into tablespoon-sized balls, and chill for one hour. In addition to protein and healthy fat from the peanut butter, flaxseed promotes a silky coat and crunching carrots is good for your dog’s teeth.

2-in-1 Toy & Treat

Core a sweet potato through the center, then slice it so that each piece has a hole in the center. Use a dehydrator to dry out the sweet potato slices, or bake them in the oven at 250° F for 3 hours. Finally, string the pieces onto a rope, and tie it off at each end. Your dog will have a delicious chew toy, and a long-lasting treat!

Bully Stick Popsicle

Pour beef broth into a popsicle mold, then place a bully stick in the center of each as a handle. Freeze them overnight. You can use the handle to feed it to your dog, or let them eat it out of a bowl.

Homemade Freeze-Dried Liver

Rinse beef liver, then simmer it for 30-45 minutes in boiling water. After the liver cools, cut it into bite-size pieces and lay them out on a non stick tray. Put them in the freezer for 5-7 days, or until it does not begin to thaw when taken out. Be sure to store the cubes away from heat and moisture.

Don’t have a dog of your own to share these treats with? Rover pet-sitters get to spend time with canine companions whenever they’d like. Test out your doggy culinary skills and make a new friend in the process!

Written by Nat Smith, Rover.com community member. Rover is the nation’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.